[Closed] SRAM Shifter problem - only 8 gears instead of 9... why??

You havent set the limit screws on the mech properly

Hmmm - Posibly but did set the limits prior to installing the cable.
I can get into the highest and lowest gears although not at the same time and not without adjusting the tension hugely at the shifter.

Outer cable length? Sometimes you see all of the slack being taken up in parts of the outer cabling, before the mech moves. Depends on the cable routing as to if this would cause a problem.

Probably not installed the cable properly then. Wind your barrel adjusters in most of the way, install the cable when your in 9th gear, make sure all the ferules are seated properly, make sure the outer cable sections are long enough. etc. etc.

Cable not seated properly inside the shifter?

ChunkyMTB - How would I check that? I put shifter in 9th and pulled so it seemed to be seated.

It is a continuous cable outer from shifter to mech so it pretty much just threads though.

Thanks for the suggestions so far though.

Open up the shifter housing (careful not to unhook the spring). Just check it's actually seated on the cable stop right.

Ratchet inside the shifter could've slipped around 1 place. Possibly thru' being over-loaded at some point in the past.

If this is the case, you'll need to completely disassemble the shifter (mechanism comes apart with an allen key on the central axle), watch as it explodes everywhere under spring-tension, then re-assemble correctly.

This last part of the procedure took me approximately 2-3 hrs and a lot of swearing to complete. It's one of those impossible jobs where you have to hold about a million different bits together, all precisely in alignment, while they are under tension from a powerful spring, then find out you've got one tiny component mis-aligned - and repeat.

Probably easier to get new shifters if this is the case. 😆

I had this problem when I was using a shimano shifter with SRAM rear mech, chain and cassette so it could be a compatibility thing.
Fixed my proble by getting a SRAM shifter

If you are getting all 8 clicks from the shifter I think the cable outer must be too short or damaged? This would possibly take up a click of the cable wihout changing gear.

If you aren't getting 8 clicks don't bother taking it apart, save yourself some pain and chuck it in the bin now and buy another one.

I had this problem when I was using a shimano shifter with SRAM rear mech, chain and cassette so it could be a compatibility thing.

Except it's worked in the past and as said above it's all SRAM.

I'd strongly advise against disassembling your shifter until you've really exhausted all options.

Does sound like a simple cable issue to me. Start again. Undo cable, check chain sits comfortably in 9th sprocket, wind barrel adjusters in, clamp cable reasonably tight and check it. What happens when it won't go into the last gear? Can't get the click out of the shifter? Click but no mech movement?

Disconnect the cable from the derailleur then check that the shifter can be set to all 9 positions.
If it can, then the shifter is fine, if not fix it or buy a new one.

One thing i had to do, is set the limit past the small sprocket on the cassette, otherwise the chain would never go down to that gear. (Giving me 8 instead of the 9 on sram X-9)

Maybe try that?

remember how ever that the 9 positions = 8 clicks

also check you are clamping the cable on the right side of the bolt on the rear mech - there should be a little groove where the cable goes !

and yup if the rear mech is well used the springs have a tendancy to go saggy meaning you need to set the stops up to allow it past the bottom cog ! - another reason i hate SRAM MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm

So... having looked at this in more detail I'm still none the wiser..

Firstly all SRAM and I have threaded through the little hole on the back of the SRAM mech.

The shifter gives me 8 clicks (so 9 positions); it's just that it doesn't give me enough pull to go from 1 to 9. In general the pull is "enough" to change a gear (the shifting is actually surprisingly good over the 8 gears I can get) but in someplaces it isn't great (especially around 5 to 6 and 3 to 4).

Haven't yet taken apart the shifter but wondering if managed to somehow damage it in taking the cables off (can't see how) as it was working fine at the weekend on the old drive train.

Contemplating swapping shifters with another bike to see if the problem migrates but that isn't fun as other one is old style x-9 with the delightful threading the cable inside the shifter game..

Mech hanger slightly bent or more likely jockey wheels worn

And, as mentioned earlier, check you've clamped the cable under the correct side of the bolt(usually a small groove for it to run through).